India, Africa push for bigger global voice, focus on skill sharing

New Delhi, March 16: The curtains came down on the two-day India-Africa business conclave here Tuesday, with the two sides pitching for greater collaboration in knowledge sharing and a greater say in international bodies.

"It's only through skill development and the development of knowledge in frontier areas that societies of the south can achieve their rightful place in the world," Vivek Katju, secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, said at the concluding session of the conclave at the Taj Palace Hotel.

"We in the South must cooperate so that we do not lag behind in permanent structures of international power," Katju said.

The conclave saw intense networking between Indian and African businesspersons who explored prospects of joint ventures and discussed an array of projects worth USD 11 billion in areas ranging from power, fertilisers and agriculture to education, small and medium industries and telecommunications.

Nearly 400 African political and business leaders, including several ministers, from 34 African countries participated in the event, inaugurated Monday by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. Ghana's Vice-President John Dramani Mahama was the guest of honour. Ghana was the partner country at the conclave.

Alluding to the era of the fight against colonialism, Katju underlined that the struggle in today's world was the struggle for development; if societies do not keep pace with the scientific and technological developments in other parts of the world they could be colonised again.

The current focus on capacity building and skills development will prevent such a scenario, he said, adding: "It is here that India-Africa cooperation attains vital importance."

"Due focus on knowledge and science and technology will give our nations the rightful positions in the global economic order," he said while alluding to 19 training institutes India has agreed to set up in Africa in a joint action plan launched last week.

Agreed Togo's Prime Minister S.E.M. Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo. Capacity building, he stressed, should not just at the individual level, but one that works at the institutional, governmental and societal levels.

"No country can sub-contract its development. Development comes about when you develop the capacity to manage your own resources," said the leader of Togo, a West African French-speaking country of over half a million people that recently held its first free elections in decades.

Houngbo also stressed that the India-Africa partnership should be placed "in the true spirit of South-South cooperation" and extend beyond business deals to all areas of development including humanitarian goals and good governance.

Summing up the proceedings of the meeting, Sanjay Kirloskar, an industrialist whose company has become synonymous with Kirloskar pumps in African countries, said the two days were aimed at asset creation in African countries through capacity building.

"Indian government and private corporate sector have believed in contributing to asset creation in Africa."

"This approach has been a catalytic confidence builder for us all in this journey toward long-term sustainable partnership," said Kirloskar, chairperson of Confederation of Indian Industry's Africa committee.